H.R. No. 751
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Pharr Elementary School was recently selected to
    1-2  serve as a Mentor School by the Texas Education Agency, joining an
    1-3  elite group of public schools chosen for a leadership role in the
    1-4  state Mentor School Network; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, Founded in 1993, the Mentor School Network strives
    1-6  to enhance the quality of education in our state by creating a
    1-7  cadre of exceptional and innovative schools that other schools can
    1-8  turn to for guidance, training, and staff development and to share
    1-9  new ideas and programs; an immediate success, the network now
   1-10  includes more than 2,000 schools statewide and has won widespread
   1-11  acclaim at both the state and national levels; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Pharr Elementary School currently ranks as the top
   1-13  performing school in its district based on Texas Assessment of
   1-14  Academic Skills test scores and has earned statewide Commended
   1-15  School status and Recognized School status in recent years for its
   1-16  students' impressive display of academic achievement; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, Students at Pharr take part in an extended school
   1-18  day that enables them to participate in computer labs, journal
   1-19  writing, reading clubs, and science and math projects, activities
   1-20  that stimulate their critical and creative thinking abilities while
   1-21  emphasizing reading and writing fundamentals; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, Teachers take part in a program of ongoing
   1-23  professional development in which they polish their basic skills
   1-24  and become familiar with new teaching methods and technology; their
    2-1  efforts have not only produced tangible results in the classroom,
    2-2  but have garnered awards from the local school district, which has
    2-3  named a Pharr teacher the district Teacher of the Year on three
    2-4  separate occasions in recent years; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, This exemplary school owes much of its success to
    2-6  principal Raul Garza and facilitator Joe Sepulveda, for they have
    2-7  provided outstanding direction to the school's talented faculty and
    2-8  staff and have enlisted parents, area businesses, and community
    2-9  volunteers to help the school's students realize their full
   2-10  potential; and
   2-11        WHEREAS, Joining Pharr Elementary School as new Mentor
   2-12  Schools this year are two other excellent schools in the Pharr-San
   2-13  Juan-Alamo Independent School District--Napper Elementary School
   2-14  and Carnahan Elementary School; with their selection, this district
   2-15  in the Rio Grande Valley claims the singular distinction of being
   2-16  the only school district in the state with three Mentor Schools, a
   2-17  noteworthy achievement that is truly a source of great pride for
   2-18  local citizens; and
   2-19        WHEREAS, A shining example of excellence in education, Pharr
   2-20  Elementary School is helping shape tomorrow's leaders with pride
   2-21  and determination and indeed merits our highest praise and
   2-22  recognition for its commendable participation in the Mentor School
   2-23  Network; now, therefore, be it
   2-24        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-25  Legislature hereby congratulate Pharr Elementary School on its
   2-26  selection as a Mentor School by the Texas Education Agency and
   2-27  commend its dedicated faculty, staff, parents, and students for
    3-1  their diligence in securing this significant achievement; and, be
    3-2  it further
    3-3        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    3-4  prepared for prominent display at Pharr Elementary School as an
    3-5  expression of highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.